Storming Inti tries to bounce back in Sir Cat
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After twice coming close to capturing a graded stakes on grass this year, Storming Inti appears to have found a perfect spot to get back on the winning track in Friday’s $100,000 Sir Cat Stakes at Saratoga.
The one-mile Sir Cat is for 3-year-olds that have never won a graded stakes on turf, a condition that is perfect for a horse like Storming Inti, who was beaten a neck when second to Global View in the Grade 2 American Turf on May 3 and less than a length while finishing third in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 Palm Beach late this winter. Storming Inti, a son of Stormy Atlantic, finished third behind Bobby’s Kitten in the Penn Mile at Penn National in his most recent start.
Javier Castellano will ride.
“Bringing him back to this level should be good for him,” trainer Chad Brown said. “That was a real good group he faced at Penn, and he showed once again he runs his heart out every time. He’s trained really well since that race, and obviously a mile will work for him. It looks like there is some speed in this race, so we’ll see what kind of trip Javier can work out on him from the inside.”
Storming Inti drew post 1 in a field of eight 3-year-olds which includes Pablo Del Monte, who was entered main-track only by trainer Wesley Ward.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Storming Inti. Over the past two years, trainer Chad Brown and jockey Javier Castellano have combined for 7 wins in 10 starts in turf route non-graded stakes at Saratoga.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
The up-and-coming Tourist may prove the horse to beat. A steadily improving Tiznow colt, Tourist has won both his starts since trainer Bill Mott switched him to grass in February. Tourist won a maiden race by 1 1/2 widening lengths at Gulfstream. He had four months off before returning with an even more impressive performance, leading throughout to register a 5 3/4-length entry-level allowance win going a mile at Belmont on June 8. He received a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest mark of any horse in the Sir Cat lineup.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Tourist. Trainer Bill Mott is 4 for 13 with a $2.15 ROI over the past two years in turf routes second off a layoff and coming off a winning effort.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Ring Weekend races on grass for the second time in his career, seeking to regain the form that saw him win the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on dirt March 8. A distant fifth in the Preakness, Ring Weekend was eased through the final furlong of the Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth Park in his latest try. He finished second in his lone turf outing, which came facing maidens this winter at Gulfstream.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Ring Weekend. Trainer Graham Motion is 2 for 13 with a $1.10 ROI over the past five years with horses going from dirt to turf in routes with purses of at least $100,000.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Cabo Cat. Trainer Mark Hennig is 3 for 43 with a $1.18 ROI over the past five years in turf routes following a winning effort.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan